Salvia plant named ‘DSALDPOCN’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘DSALDPOCN’ is disclosed, characterized by early flowering of deep blue flowers, very full and mounded habit. Additionally all the flowers are at the same height. The new variety is a  Salvia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia farinacea.

Variety denomination: ‘DSALDPOCN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Salvia varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during 2010.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Salvia ‘SAF-9-971’. The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in June of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2010 open pollination, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetative apical cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in July of 2011 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DSALDPOCN’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DSALDPOCN’ as a new and distinct Salvia cultivar:

-   -   1. Very full and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Early flowering.     -   3. Deep blue flower color.     -   4. Flowers occurring at the same height

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Salvia ‘SAF-9-971’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Deep blue flowers. The seed parent has white flowers.     -   2. The new variety blooms earlier.     -   3. The new variety produces more flowers.     -   4. Shorter peduncles.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Salvia ‘Dansalfun’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,788. The two Salvia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DSALDPOCN’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a more compact plant habit.     -   2. The new variety has a more full plant habit.     -   3. The new variety does not have noticeable white eyes on the         flower, as the comparator.     -   4. The new variety has shorter peduncles.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DSALDPOCN’ can also be comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Salvia ‘SALLYFUN BICOLOR BEAUTY’, unpatented. The two Salvia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DSALDPOCN’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has lower petal and upper petals the same         shade of blue, whereas comparator has 2 different colors—the         lower petal in shades of light blue and the upper in darker         blue.     -   2. More compact and mounded habit. The comparator habit is more         spreading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DSALDPOCN’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 15 weeks from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers and foliage.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DSALDPOCN’ plants grown in the Autumn, to Spring in moderate climate in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 16° C. to 25° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia farinacea ‘DSALDPOCN’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative cutting. -   Time to initiate roots: 5-7 days at approximately 25° C. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 10-14 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 15 weeks. -   Container size of the plant described: 13 cm. -   Overall plant shape or growth habit: Mounded. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 30 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.6 cm. -   Quantity of lateral branches: About 20-25. -   Branch color: Yellow-green group 144A RHS. -   Branch texture/pubescence: Pulverulent, slightly ribbed longwise. -   Internode length: Approximate average 2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 20 per main branch.         -   Average length.—Approximately 8 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Pointed.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Margin.—Very slightly crenate.         -   Fragrance.—Very minimal aromatic.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, slightly glossy,             sporadically canescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, matte, sporadically             canescent.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-green 146B RHS.             Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-green 146A RHS. Mature             foliage upper side: Near Yellow-green 147A RHS. Mature             foliage under side: Near Yellow-green 147A RHS.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near             Yellow-green group 146B RHS. Venation color under side: Near             Yellow-green group 146C RHS.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near Yellow-green group 144B             RHS.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: From early spring to late autumn in     moderate climate. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Bilabiate flowers arranged in vertical     clusters on spike, upright. -   Flower longevity on plant: About 3 to 5 days, depending on     temperature. -   Quantity of flowers: About 20 to 35 blooming spikes per plant. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm.         -   Height.—Approximately 18 cm.         -   Flowers and buds per inflorescence.—Average range 60 to 90. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—15-18 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Pulverulent, slightly ribbed longwise.         -   Color.—Near Violet-Blue group N92C RHS.         -   Orientation.—About 30° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Petal arrangement.—The corolla is sympetalous and typically             bilabiate with 2 small, highly fused lobes forming an upper             lip and 3 larger highly fused lobes forming a lower lip. -   Individual flowers:     -   -   Size.—Upper lip (tube like) Diameter: Approximately 0.3 cm.             Length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Lower lip (4 fused lobe)             Length: Approximately 1 cm. Width: Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Persistence.—Non-persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Very sweet, nectar-like fragrance. -   Petals: One upper lip and one lower lip with 4 lobes. Lips are fused     at base. Upper lip has smooth short feather like hairs, lower lip is     smooth and hairless.     -   -   Margin.—Slightly wavy.         -   Tip shape.—Upper lip: Rounded. Lower lip: Blunt.         -   Length.—Upper lip: 0.5 cm. Lower lip: 1 cm. Tube: 0.5 cm.         -   Width.—Upper lip: 0.3 cm. Lower lip: 1 cm. Tube: 0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper lip: Upper surface: Smooth, short feather             like hairs. Under surface: Glabrous. Lower lip: Upper             surface: Glabrous; under surface: Glabrous. Tube: Upper             surface: Glabrous; under surface: Glabrous. -   Color: Upper Lip.     -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS.             Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group N92B RHS.         -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS.             Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS.         -   Fading.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93C RHS. Outer             surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93B RHS. -   Color: Lower Lip.     -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS,             streaked or blotched at base near 91D. Outer surface: Near             Violet-Blue group N92B RHS, streaked or blotched at base             near 91D.         -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93C RHS,             streaked or blotched near base between 91D and White N155A.             Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93B RHS, streaked or             blotched at base near White N155A.         -   Aging.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93D RHS. Outer             surface: Near Violet-Blue group 93C RHS. -   Color: Tube.     -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 91D RHS.             Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group 91A RHS.         -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 92A RHS.             Outer surface: Near Violet-Blue group 92C RHS.         -   Fading.—Inner surface: Near Violet-Blue group 91D RHS. Outer             surface: Near Violet-Blue group 94B RHS. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.         -   Length.—0.5 CM.         -   Diameter.—0.2 CM.         -   Color.—Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 2 lobes fused in base to form a             tube.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Velvety, with rough lines longwise, pulverulent.         -   Color.—Near Violet-Blue group 93A RHS.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—2.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.1 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 CM.         -   Color.—Near Greyed-Purple group N187 RHS.         -   Pollen.—Color: Near Yellow group 14A RHS. Quantity: Medium. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1 cm. Color: Near Violet group             85D RHS. -   Stigma:     -   -   Shape.—V shape with one side longer than the other.         -   Color.—Near Violet group 85B RHS. -   Ovary color: Near Green-Yellow group 1D RHS.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: 1-4 seeds per flower, ovoid shape. Dark Grey-Brown     in color, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Salvia farinacea has been observed.     Pests which can be found in Salvia include aphids and thrips.     Typical diseases are Peronospora lamii and Erysiphe cichoracearum. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘DSALDPOCN’ as herein illustrated and described. 